I stepped out of the car at the airport in Chiang Mai, Thailand to pick up my sister from USA. She was visiting us while on Christmas break from college. I took a deep breath and smelled the clear, cool, winter air. Blinked. And suddenly I’m at the end of April with just six weeks left before moving back to the States!
Can you believe a third of the year is almost over? I can’t. But that’s what we always say, right? Time always goes faster than we think it will. And why wouldn’t it? With each passing year, one of them is a smaller percentage of our lifetime.
Last week was the annual IGo Staff retreat. Plenty of mixed feelings, considering it was our last one. There are many changes coming down the pipe for us. Exciting changes. Scary changes. Just-plain-emotional changes.
We have five weeks left at Victory Christian School. Five more weeks with my students, each of whom I will deeply miss. We leave Thailand on May 31st.
In many ways, it feels as if we are closing the door on a chapter of life. A chapter that feels rather significant to us. Perhaps ten years from now, the past three years won’t seem that overly significant. But for now, they are a huge part of our family’s young life and it is melancholy thinking of these years in Thailand coming to an end. They have certainly been some of the fullest years of our lives so far. (You may see me writing more over the next couple of months about what I’ve learned during this season of life.)
The plan at this point is to begin pursuing a Bachelors of Biblical Studies. I will be attending Eternity Bible College (EBC), a small college located in Southern California. They focus on giving their students quality Bible training at a low cost, as well as getting them involved in ministry while studying. Not just gaining head knowledge.
Our vision is to make disciples through the next generation. That may be through teaching or kid’s clubs or whatever God leads us to do. We’re not sure what all it involves. It’s just what we feel God moving us toward. So, we look forward to connecting again with our home church (LA ROAD), which was started as a house church plant with a vision for panting more house churches. We plan to move back into the community we lived in before (or a similar community) and help with the children’s ministry as we can. Teresa will continue being full-time Mom and looks forward to getting Kenaz started in preschool.
As far as writing goes, I recently released three new eBooks, which you can get in my store. I am wrapping up my book Live Free and hope to submit it for publishing by the beginning of May. Lord willing, we will release that later this summer or fall. I also hope to release a few more eBook before the end of the year. I am thoroughly excited to be in the process of developing a video course with my friend Kevin to complement Live Free, as well. We are very much in the beginning stages, but thoroughly excited nonetheless.
Many people have asked how we are going to make it financially. Moving to SoCal means we will pay for housing what our total budget is here in Thailand, so it’s not a cheap venture. Have we saved up enough to put us through schooling? Do I plan to work? How’s this going to go?
I am grateful people care about us, but to be honest, I always feel awkward whenever someone asks me this question. God has faithfully taken care of us over the last three years and we are deeply grateful to those who have been a part of this. But depending on other people’s help feel awkward, nonetheless.
Here in Thailand, we work under the Institute for Global Opportunities (IGO). They do not pay us, but channel whatever support we manage to raise. We also receive support through my writing via Patreon, which is a platform that enables my readers to support my work. The cool thing about Patreon, is that it makes it easy for me to track and allows me to give rewards in return for your support. Currently, we have about twenty-three people supporting us this way. Some give about $1 a month; others give closer to $100 a month.
Between these two avenues, we’ve been able to more than cover our budget and even set some aside for moving. So yes, we have some money in savings. But even what we have saved won’t put us through college. Not even a year of it.
Then how will we make it? I don’t know. That is why it’s awkward.
I plan to continue writing, but that doesn’t cover our budget at this point. I would like to be able to do even more research and writing, Lord willing. But I also realize if finances aren’t there, school and writing may need to happen at a slower pace so I can also work a job that brings in immediate cash. I am certainly open to that. However, at this point, we feel God leading us to go ahead with college and writing as we begin work in SoCal.
If you have appreciated and are impacted by the work that I do in blogging and writing and would like to support it, you may do so through Patreon. Or if you would just like to help support us as we make this transition, you can also do it through Patreon, or sending it directly to us through PayPal.
I really don’t like raw charity or just asking people for money, but some have wondered what the plan is or how they can help. So, here’s how you can do that if you are interested. It’s a sometimes awkward mix of training, writing, and missions and I don’t always know how it is supposed to look, but God is faithful along each step of the way. I trust Him. He will continue being faithful.
Pray with us in our transition, as you think about it. Not only is our work changing, but we’re going from Asian culture to American/Spanish culture. The next year will be full of ups and downs, I’m sure. Our desire is to continue being faithful knowing Christ, making disciples and up-building the church through writing and resources.
As always, thanks for your support, even just the faithful reading and responding, the emails of encouragement and different ways you show it. I always enjoy hearing from readers!
f you have any further questions about our upcoming changes and so forth, feel free to ask me in the comments.
God bless!
